Longtime Pittsfield Police Officer Passes Suddenly

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Police Department is mourning the sudden loss of a longtime officer.

Chief Thomas Dawley announced the unexpected death of Officer Michael Silver "with great sadness" on Monday. Silver worked for the department for more than 15 years and is remembered as a highly respected member of the force.

The Dawley's post on Facebook stated the department would not release more information and requested privacy for Silver's family.

"Rest in peace Ofc. Michael Silver Call Sign #403, your brothers and sisters in blue will take it from here," he wrote in a Facebook post.


Silver began his career with PPD in 2008 after graduating from the State Police Municipal Academy. He has been a senior tactical operator on the Berkshire County Special Response Team since 2016 and was assigned to the department's traffic unit.

"Ofc. Silver was dedicated to the profession of being a police officer and was highly respected by his peers," Dawley wrote.

Silver briefly served with the Lee Police Department in 2015 and was a certified Municipal Police Training Committee instructor in several areas. He received several letters of commendation and was the recipient of the Weapons Seizure Award and a Drug Buster Award.

Dawley and members of the PPD extended their deepest condolences to the officer's family, friends, and those who knew him.


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Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Holds Awards Banquet

Community submission
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Friday honored outstanding contributors to the Berkshire County sports scene at its third annual Awards Dinner at the Polish Falcon Club.
 
The foundation supports youth sports throughout the county each year.
 
In 2025-26, those donations totaled more than $30,000 to groups ranging from youth football and cheerleading programs, Pittsfield Little League, Northern Berkshire Softball and the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club Recreation Therapy Program, to name a few.
 
Funds raised by the foundation also go to support its annual Vera Barborotta Memorial Sportsman Scholarship, which this year went to Lee High School graduate Joey Abderhalden and Taconic grad Madeline Harrington.
 
Two other recently graduated high school standout athletes were recognized as winners of the Al Bianchi Memorial Athletes of the Year: Madison McCarthy and Cooper Calvert, both of Wahconah Regional High School.
 
Pittsfield High School girls basketball coach Kristy Conyers and Hoosac Valley boys basketball coach Matt Larabee received the foundation's Coach of the Year Awards.
 
John Castonguay received the Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Living Legend Award. A.J. Ziter took home the Connie Bianchi Memorial Award of Merit. And Mark Moulton rounded out the honorees with the foundation's Volunteer of the Year Award.
 
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